Perhaps the most humiliating experience was on the Albany path where somehow a small stone kicked up from the pavement and became lodged between the wheel and the shell of the skate. Did I say you couldn’t stop suddenly on these things? Well, I did on that occasion, as the stone stopped the wheel in its tracks and sent me flying. The kicker is that after taking off the skate, I was still unable to remove the stone. (I had failed to bring my allen wrench with me and so I could not take off the wheel; I have made the wrench a mandatory accessory on all subsequent outings). So I suffered the indignity of marching two or three miles back to the boat launch in my stocking feet, holding my skates while passersby solicitously inquired about the circumstances of my predicament.

This afternoon, I tested out the new skates (without incident) for eight miles on the Albany path. They are slightly faster than my old pair and I will have to adjust to a difference in balance and feel, but that happens every time one switches skates, and it is not unlike going from ice-skating to in-line skating. I intend to get many more years of use out of these skates and with some luck will continue to avoid hills, cars, children and orthopedic specialists.

P.S. After reading through this post, it occurred to me that I may have dwelt on too many negative experiences. It is certainly not my intention to deter anyone from taking up this enjoyable recreational activity and wish to reassure readers that the great majority of my skating sojourns pass without incident. Your results may vary.